House of the Foundlings1, October 3, 1640
Monsieur,
1 am very annoyed with Sister Turgis for leaving this good girl behind. I had told her not to be deterred by the cost of the journey if that were the only obstacle and that, should an occasion present itself, she should send her. She knew that she would be welcome, as would the girl about whom your Charity had done me the honor of speaking. Blessed Monsieur de Sales did not exclude these poor creatures from his order, that is, the order of his daughters, so we would be very much in the wrong were we not to accept them.
I am embarrassed to have gone so far for a question of schedule. I thought, Monsieur, that I had placed the whole matter in your hands. Please settle it, as everything else, for the good of our sisters who are so indebted to you, as I am also on account of all that 1 have come to owe your Charity because of your attention to my difficulties. It is you, Monsieur, by your charitable concern, who have, by the grace of God, led them to the practice of that detachment which you have observed in them on the occasion of this separation. You can see, Monsieur, the need they have of your assistance to accomplish the holy will of God, which seems to be that Sister Elisabeth2 remain in Angers since His goodness has restored her to health. This was the only reason that we had considered withdrawing her.
I was beginning to fear that you were ill, and I had decided to contact your sister3 to have more accurate news of you. Thanks be to God it was good. May He grant us the grace of preserving you for His glory and His love in which I remain, Monsieur, your most obedient daughter and servant.
- It was a question of buying a house near Saint-Lazare in order to transfer the Daughters of Charity Motherhouse there (Coste II, 130, 333). Responsibility for all the foundlings was achieved on March 30, 1640.
- Elisabeth Martin, Sister Servant of the community of the hospital at Angers, see Letter 22.
- Madame du Plessis, see Letter 107.